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Planning for Advent 2014

Presented by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards Director of Worship Resources GBOD

GBOD A Service of Word and Table Planning for Advent 2014

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Informed

Inspired

Challenged

Moved/SENT

Changed/Healed

Comforted

Initiated/connected





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Historically: Scary, thrilling, admonitory, penitential


Historically: The Culmination of All Things in Christ (eschatology)– including the Second Coming, Great Tribulation and the Last Judgment, with John the Baptist’s ministry and Mary’s song/prophecy pointing forward to these things.


Historically: A “secondary” season of baptismal preparation, with baptism at Christmas and/or Epiphany


Historically: 7 weeks, parallel with Lent, from just after All Saints through December 24 (day), until “shortened” to 4 weeks in the West by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century


1. Catechumenate (and so purpose of extended baptismal preparation) faded away

2. Saints Days overshadowed the Sundays

3. The basic readings were NOT changed– so still 7 weeks of related materials

4. Became a penitential season with eschatological overtones (but not center) leading into a joyous season (Christmas)

What Happened to Advent in the West?


5. In the US through the 19th century many Protestants observed days more than seasons (Christmas, Epiphany, Good Friday, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Civic Holidays, Denominational Program Days, Thanksgiving)

6. Aesthetic movement in early 20th century “restored” Advent, but primarily as preparation /lead-in to Christmas

7. Christmas Retail-Industrial-Vacation Complex

What Happened to Advent in the West?


Results: 1) United Methodists have “restored” Advent in official resourcing as of 1989 hymnal/1992 BOW 2) Many Protestant resources for Advent frame it as a time to “simplify” or “contemplate” or “prepare one’s heart” for Christmas… a season also typically not kept because of holiday/vacation schedules 3) Themes for “American Protestantized” Advent often have more to do with winter, childbirth or “journey to Bethlehem” than the culmination of all things in Christ


Results: 4) Congregations, pastors/musicians and end up crossways about music, preaching and the “decoration of the church” during the four weeks normally designated as Advent 5) Bottom line: We end up often with a lose-lose-lose situation. Pastors and leaders trying to be faithful the the purposes of Advent and Christmas are forced into a compromise position on both. That compromise, in turn, tends not to give either season the time or focus each requires. And this means the congregation gets little if any formation in eschatology or incarnation.



So what can we do?


Eschatology: The culmination of all things in Christ as prelude to the celebration of the incarnation Baptismal/(re)affirmational preparation

Incarnation and the disruptions/aftermath that entails Baptism or (re)affirmation at Christmas, Epiphany, New Year and/or Baptism of the Lord


Apocalyptic: The Age to Come Breaking into This Present Age

Joy, Awe, Wonder, and Threat


Informed Doctrine Inspired Hope Practicing Change in Light of the End

Informed Doctrine Initiation/Deepening of Commitment to Christ Challenge to Live the Way of God’s Kingdom


Start? Normal OR count back from date of baptism or (re)affirmation as far as Sunday after All Saints Ongoing: Lectionary OR stepwise progress week to week End: Segue into Christmas (Christmas Eve OR earlier)

Start? Christmas Eve OR earlier Ongoing: “Normal” OR “Radical” Lectionary or your own “stepwise” plan leading to baptism End: Segue into Season after Epiphany and calling new persons to prepare for discipleship


Eschatology/ Baptismal preparation

Which of these will be your better focus this year– or might both? Realitistically, how much time do you need to develop the basis you choose AND still give Christmas the time it needs for its focus? Suggestion: If you’re doing baptismal preparation as part of this season, give yourself at least 6-7 weeks from beginning to when you set the date of baptisms.

Baptism Advent Starts Jan 11 Nov 23/30 Jan 4 Nov 23 Jan 1 Nov 16/23 Dec 25 Nov 16


Incarnation/aftermath and

baptism/(re)affirmation

Which of these focuses (or both) will you address this year? How much time do you need to address it/them given schedules? Suggestion: Try for at least four services (including Christmas Eve), where you know most folks are likely to be present for at least three INCLUDING the baptisms/ (re)affirmation).

Three Foci: Celebrating the birth Contemplating the Incarnation Recognizing the aftermath All with implications for baptism


Eschatology/ Baptismal preparation Revised Common Lectionary Themes

“Regular” Advent November 30: “God coming down” to deliver/restore (Isaiah/Psalm) and make us holy (Isaiah/I Cor), but also with terrifying signs (Isaiah/Mark) December 7: “Here Is Your God” (Isaiah/Mark) who brings comfort (Isaiah/Psalm) and who sets creation ablaze to make all things new (2 Peter) December 14: Prepare the way (John, Thessalonians) for coming “favor, vengeance and comfort” (Isaiah, Psalm/Magnificat)

Dec 21: A mystery disclosed (Romans/Luke), the house of David fulfilled (2 Samuel. Magnificat/Luke),



“Regular” Advent Anchor Images/Taglines a) Should be clear on Advent 1 b) Should connect across the season in some way “Tear open the heavens and come down…” Isaiah 64 “Restore us, O God of Hosts…” Psalm 80

Stay awake, on watch for God… Mark 13

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Apocalyptic: The Age to Come Breaking into This Present Age

“Regular” Advent Anchor Images/Taglines “Tear open the heavens and come down…” Isaiah 64 “Restore us, O God of Hosts…” Psalm 80


“Desperate hope” Where we need to be “Sober Confession”– Where we are “Vigilance”– How we’ll wait and get ready


“Regular” Advent Anchor Images/Taglines “Tear open the heavens and come down…” Isaiah 64 “Restore us, O God of Hosts…” Psalm 80


“Desperate hope” to “hope revealed” “Sober Confession” to Mary’s Song/New life conceived “Vigilance” to Receiving with Joy


“Desperate hope” to “hope revealed” “Sober Confession” to Mary’s Song/New life conceived “Vigilance” to Receiving with Joy

Rejoicing in hope to hope amidst opposition New life dawns to new life a threatened threat Receiving with joy to joyous defiance

Note: Baptism where it makes most sense in this flow– rejoicing/contemplation/threat AND when folks will be there!



“Extended” Advent Use complementary series (rather than semi-continuous) for OT/Psalm November 9: Get ready for the day of the Lord (Amos/1 Thessalonians/Matthew) November 16: “Dies irae, dies illa” is coming (Zephaniah), so live as in the day, not the “thick darkness” (I Thessalonians, Matthew) November 23: Christ the King upon his Final Throne (Matthew, Ephesians) as shepherd (Ezekiel/Matthew)


“Extended” Advent Anchor Images/Taglines a) Should be clear on Advent 1 b) Should connect across the season in some way “Why do you want the Day of the Lord?” Amos 5 “We do not want you to be uninformed…” I Thessalonians 4

Be prepared/Get ready … Matthew 25

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“Extended” Advent Anchor Images/Taglines “Why do you want the Day of the Lord?” Amos 5 “We do not want you to be uninformed…” I Thessalonians 4

Be prepared/Get ready … Matthew 25

From paralyzing fear to joyous awe Ignorance to revelation “From Getting Things in Order” to Receiving with Joy


From awe to encountering the threat to and from Christ Contemplating the mystery to countering resistance Receiving with joy to joyous defiance

Note: If you do “extended Advent” you may want to use John rather than Luke for Christmas Eve

From paralyzing fear to joyous awe Ignorance to revelation “From Getting Things in Order” to Receiving with Joy


Other Options: 1: “A Modest Proposal”-- Start “Advent” two weeks early (November 16), then start Christmas celebration (at least music and decorations) on “regular” Advent 3 (December 14, Joy Sunday) http://www.gbod.org/resources/a-modest-proposal-for-adventchristmas-peace

Pro: Four full weeks of celebrating BOTH Advent AND Christmas (more or less) Pro: No changes to any lectionaries. Con: Christmas Season is still “shorted” on doctrinal and formational content because of “Christmastime”

http://www.gbod.org/resources/a-modest-proposal-for-adventchristmas-peace














Other Options: 2. A Radical Proposal: Start Advent 2 weeks early, Start Christmas December 14 with Epiphany readings, then After Christmas, the Christmas Eve/Christmas (but flip them), then use Advent 3 and 4 readings after Christmas (after Christmas and “former” Epiphany Sunday). http://umcworship.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrate-advent-and-christmas-season.html

Pro: 4 full weeks each of Advent and Christmas Season Pro: Full content for Christmas Season, and chance to reframe “Advent” readings Con: Messes with the calendar and lectionary significantly. If you do this, find other congregations to try it with you.

http://umcworship.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrate-advent-and-christmas-season.html











Other Options: 3. Spin Your Own– Develop your own series for Advent (and Christmas Season) to address the basic themes of each season– Eschatology/Fulfillment of all things in Christ for Advent, Birth/Incarnation and the Threat that brings to the powers that be for Christmas Season.

Pro: You create series that seem coherent for your context and do what each Season calls us to do Con: You won’t find much resourcing that does this– yet. Stay tuned to GBOD.org in 2015! Con: You may not be much “in sync” with other Christians during these seasons


Keep the “regular” seasons, letting each do what each is supposed to do– but this may shortchange Christmas Season. Modify the timing for keeping the seasons : Extended Advent– more time for eschatology and baptismal preparation, but doesn’t address Christmas Season issues Modest Proposal– adds two weeks to Christmas up front using Advent readings, but may miss core readings Radical Proposal– Advent gets full treatment and Christmas doctrinal materials are frontloaded to reduce “vacation loss,” but this may effectively de-emphasize Christmas Eve/Day. Spin Your Own– May make great sense locally, but be sure to inform selections via lectionary readings (especially OT) to maintain theological richness


Bringing It All Together 1. Start with the end in mind: forming folks in eschatology to strengthen their discipleship and adoration of the Coming Lord– whether baptismal preparation/baptism is part of the mix this year or not 1a. If baptismal preparation IS part of the mix, recruit and train sponsors now!


Bringing It All Together 2. Figure out how much time you need to accomplish the purposes of Advent and Christmas Season (given local realities) and set your schedule accordingly. Once schedule is set, notify music leader and other related artists (if you’ve not already been working with them) and invite them to start the active planning process.


Bringing It All Together 3. Determine which kind of plan you will follow for Advent and Christmas Season this year– “regular,” “extended,” “modest,” “radical” or “spin your own”


Bringing It All Together 4. Develop (or find) an anchor image and/or tagline that best captures the connections in the particular texts you have chosen to use for each season. 4a. Once you have the images/taglines, start publicizing them to build interest for the series– even before the plans are complete!


Bringing It All Together 5. Use the anchor image and/or tagline as a thread to guide your focus on the scriptures week TO week and then week BY week. Plot out together how each service contributes, step by step/week by week, to the progress of the series. Remember: The conclusion of Advent is also a segue into Christmas Season.


Bringing It All Together 6. Keep mood in mind for each service and across the series– this will help you narrow down on visuals, the “sound” of the music you sing or hear, and the way leaders use their voices in worship.


Bringing It All Together 7. We’re here for you. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Advent Resources: (108 items) http://www.gbod.org/worship/seasons-of-the-church-year

and click on the Advent checkbox

Advent Music: (173 downloads) http://www.gbod.org/worship/music-downloads-liturgical

and click on the Advent checkbox

Preaching/Planning/Music helps: http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary-calendar

(most current)

http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary-planning-archive

(previously posted)

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.gbod.org/worship/seasons-of-the-church-year











http://www.gbod.org/worship/music-downloads-liturgical







http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary-calendar















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Copyright

“Planning for Advent 2014” Copyright © 2014 The General Board of

Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville

TN 37203-0003. Website: http://www.GBOD.org. This may not be

reproduced, sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on a

website not under the auspices of The General Board of Discipleship

without written permission from [email protected].

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Planning for Advent 2014 - Amazon Web Servicesgbod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy/...for-Advent... · GBOD Planning for Advent 2014 A Service of Word and Table Other Options: 2. A